Biography

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The United Records Story
Delmark DD 775 - United Series

United Records was the first successful black-owned record company. Operated by Leonard Allen, tailor, retired policeman and obviously one of exceptionally wide taste in music, the two labels (United and States) issued some of the best performances in jazz, blues, gospel, R&B, doo-****, even country and pop between 1951 and 1957.
Twenty six CDs have been issued in Delmark’s United Series. The United Records Story is a sampler featuring stellar tracks highlighting the label’s history including previously unissued Junior Wells and Jimmy Forrest; tracks on CD for the first time by Leo Parker, Della Reese, Tiny Grimes, Grant Jones, Chris Woods, Jimmy Coe, Tab Smith, Ray McKinstry, and Johnny Wicks’ Swinging Ozarks; plus J. T. Brown, Robert Anderson, Four Blazes, Alfred Harris, The Pastels, Memphis Slim with Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Robert Nighthawk, Morris Pejoe, Dennis Binder, Paul Bascomb and Roosevelt Sykes.


1. Roosevelt Sykes Fine And Brown (alternate) 2:54
+2. Leo Parker Cool Leo 2:27
*3. Junior Wells Cut That Out (alternate) 2:51
+4.Chris Woods Somebody Done Stole My Blues 2:22
5. Robert Nighthawk Seventy-Four 2:49
+6. Jimmy Coe Organ Grinder 2:49
7. Four Blazes Raggedy Ride 2:12
8. J.T. Brown Walking Home 2:36
9. Memphis Slim Memphis Slim U.S.A. 2:53
+10. Ray McKinstry Dinah 2:29
11. Morris Pejoe Let's Get High 2:30
+12. Tab Smith Crazy Walk 2:40
+13. Grant Jones In The Dark 3:06
14. Paul Bascomb Nona 3:05
15. Dennis Binder The Long Man 2:42
16. The Pastels Goodbye 2:42
17. Alfred Harris My Life Blues 3:01
+18. Tiny Grimes Tiny's Boogie 2:57
+19. Della Reese Yes Indeed 2:44
+20. Johnny Wicks Jockey Jack Boogie 2:39
*21. Jimmy Forrest Sophisticated Lady (alternate) 2:47
22. Robert Anderson Come In The Room 2:33

*previously unissued, +appearing on CD for the first time

The following was the introduction to "Leonard Allen and the United/States Story" by Bob Pruter and Jim O'Neal that appeared in three parts in Living Blues magazine, issue numbers 92, 93 and 95. Those interested should search the article out because it is quite fascinating and has many insights into the record business of the 1950s.

Leonard Allen who headed the United/States label group in the early 1950s in Chicago, died July 16, 1985, but fortunately he had time to sit down for interviews with blues researchers in the years before his death. Allen founded United/States in 1951 with Lew Simpkins, who had earlier been in the record business during the ’40s, working A&R at Miracle and then Premium. Simpkins had talked to his friend Allen, who was working as a tailor, into getting into the business and providing the initial seed money for the operation. Soon after the company was founded Simpkins took ill and died in May, 1953, at the age of 35, leaving Allen in charge. Assisting Allen at the company was his nephew-in-law, Samuel Smith (Smitty), who did the A&R with the vocal groups. An independent contractor who had no position at the company, Al Smith, also worked with Allen's artists.
Allen kept the company in business until 1957, when a lack of hits did the company in. During its existence, however, United (and its subsidiary label, States) had national hits with Tab Smith's "Because Of You", Jimmy Forrest's "Night Train", the Danderliers "Chop Chop Boom", and the Four Blazes' "Mary Jo", but the company also developed a substantial catalog of local and lesser hits by the Caravans, Moroccos, and the Staple Singers. It was this rich catalog of blues, as well as jazz, that prompted Delmark Records' Bob Koester to purchase the masters of the United/States operation from Allen in 1975.
Allen was born March 21, 1900, in Montgomery, Alabama, the son of a highly religious mother and a Methodist minister. Young Leonard attended high school in Birmingham with the intention of entering the ministry. Alabama was a hotbed of gospel quartet singing and Allen began singing in such ensembles. In 1917 he went up to Chicago, and for many years there continued to sing in quartets. He was never in a group that recorded, but recalls touring the Midwest with various ensembles. Allen joined the Chicago police department in 1928 and remained in the force until the late ’40s. He then got his tailoring and cleaning business and met Lew Simpkins as a customer. The upshot was the formation of United/States.
After the record business folded, Allen reverted to his tailoring shop to make a living. Then he joined the Cook County Sheriff Department and was deputy for several years, while the Republican party held the office of sheriff. During the late ’50s and early’60s, a number of United/States releases were reissued on the B&F label, a company owned by Bud Brandom, who was in possession of half the publishing arm of United/States. In the last years Allen supplemented his meager social security income by doing tailoring in his apartment.

1. ROOSEVELT SYKES Fine And Brown (alternate) (Roosevelt Sykes) July 12, 1951
ROOSEVELT SYKES: vocal, piano ROBERT "SAX" CROWDER: tenor sax OETT "SAX" MALLARD: alto sax RANSOM KNOWLING: bass JUMP JACKSON: drums
ROOSEVELT SYKES Raining In My Heart Delmark 642

2. LEO PARKER Cool Leo (Leo Parker) November 15, 1952
LEO PARKER: baritone sax JACK PARKER: drums remainder unknown
Not yet available on any other Delmark CD.

3. JUNIOR WELLS Cut That Out (Amos Blakemore, Embassy Music, BMI) June 8, 1953
JUNIOR WELLS: vocal, harmonica LOUIS MYERS: guitar JOHNNY JONES: piano DAVE MYERS: bass FRED BELOW: drums
From the same recording session as other songs issued on Blues Hit Big Town
JUNIOR WELLS Blues Hit Big Town Delmark 640

4. CHRIS WOODS Somebody Done Stole My Blues February 24, 1953
CHRIS WOODS: alto sax remainder unknown
CHRIS WOODS Somebody Done Stole My Blues (Not yet on CD, out of print Delmark 434 LP)

5. ROBERT NIGHTHAWK Seventy Four October 25, 1952
ROBERT NIGHTHAWK: vocal, guitar CURTIS JONES: piano RANSOM KNOWLING: bass remainder unknown
ROBERT NIGHTHAWK Bricks In My Pillow Delmark 711

6. JIMMY COE Organ Grinder October 17, 1953
JIMMY COE: tenor sax JAMES PALMER: organ JOHN WITTCLIFF: bass EARL "FOX" WALKER: drums
JIMMY COE After Hours Joint (Not yet on CD, out of print Delmark 443 LP)

7. THE FOUR BLAZES Raggedy Ride (Ronald Slim Hall, Jet Music, BMI) August 17, 1953
TOMMY BRADEN: vocal, bass FLOYD MCDANIEL: guitar WILLIAM" SHORTY" HILL: guitar PAUL LINDSLEY "JELLY" HOLT: drums EDDIE CHAMBLEE: tenor sax
THE FOUR BLAZES Mary Jo Delmark 704

8. J.T. BROWN Walking Home January 10, 1952
J.T. BROWN: tenor sax BOB CALL: piano possibly JUMP JACKSON: drums
remainder unknown
J.T. BROWN Windy City Boogie Delmark 714

9. MEMPHIS SLIM Memphis Slim U.S.A. (Peter Chatman, Embassy Music, BMI) September 29, 1954
MEMPHIS SLIM: vocal, piano MATT "GUITAR" MURPHY: guitar NEIL GREEN: tenor sax JIM CONLEY: tenor sax HENRY TAYLOR: bass OTHO ALLEN: drums
MEMPHIS SLIM Memphis Slim U.S.A. Delmark 710

10. RAY MCKINSTRY Dinah (Akst/Lewis/Young, B&G Akst Publ. Co./EMI Mills Music Inc./Morley Music Co., ASCAP) August 29, 1952
RAY MCKINSTRY: all instruments (according to the original 78 label)
Not yet available on any other Delmark CD.

11. MORRIS PEJOE Let's Get High (Grant Jones, Embassy Music, BMI) December 1954
MORRIS PEJOE: vocal, guitar HENRY GRAY: piano MILTON RECTOR: bass EARL PHILLIPS: drums STANLEY GRIM: alto sax unknown tenor sax
MORRIS PEJOE Wrapped In My Baby Delmark 716

12. TAB SMITH Crazy Walk (Tab Smith, Embassy Music, BMI) January 24, 1957
TAB SMITH: alto sax remainder unknown
TAB SMITH Crazy Walk Delmark 555

13. GRANT JONES In The Dark (Lillian Green, Universal Duchess Music Corp./Wabash Music Co., BMI) October 7, 1952
GRANT JONES: vocal RED SAUNDERS: drums remainder unknown
Not yet available on any other Delmark CD.

14. PAUL BASCOMB Nona August 25, 1952
PAUL BASCOMB: tenor sax EDDIE LEWIS: trumpet FRANK PORTER: alto sax TOMMY WATERS: alto sax HAROLD WALLACE: baritone sax DUKE JORDAN: piano JAMES MCCRARY: bass GEORGE DEHART: drums
PAUL BASCOMB Bad Bascomb Delmark 431

15. DENNIS BINDER The Long Man (Dennis Binder, Embassy Music, BMI) May 12, 1955
DENNIS BINDER: vocal, possibly piano RAYMOND HILL: tenor sax BOBBY FIELDS: tenor sax VINCENT "GUITAR RED" DULING: guitar AL SMITH: bass BOB PRINDELL: drums
LONG MAN BLUES Delmark 717

16. THE PASTELS Goodbye October 19, 1955
FRED BUCKLEY, CHARLES MCKNIGHT, NORMAN PALM, ROBERT RANDOLPH, CHARLES WILLIAMS: vocal RED HOLLOWAY: tenor sax HORACE PALM: piano WILLIAM "LEFTY" BATES: guitar QUINN WILSON: bass VERNEL FOURNIER: drums
THE MOROCCOS Bang Goes My Heart Delmark 761

17. ALFRED HARRIS My Life Blues August 9, 1954
ALFRED HARRIS: vocal, harmonica EARL DRANES: guitar JAMES BANNISTER: drums remainder unknown
BIG WALTER HORTON & ALFRED "BLUES KING" HARRIS Harmonica Blues Kings Delmark 712

18. TINY GRIMES Tiny's Boogie (Grimes) November 27, 1951
TINY GRIMES: guitar RED PRYSOCK: tenor sax FREDDIE REDD: piano unknown bass JERRY POTTER: drums
Not yet available on any other Delmark CD.

19. DELLA REESE Yes Indeed (Sy Oliver, Embassy Music, BMI) June 30, 1953
DELLA REESE: vocal CAT ANDERSON: trumpet CLARK TERRY: trumpet
PORTER KILBERT: alto sax JIMMY HAMILTON: tenor sax MCKINLEY EASTON: baritone sax probably EARL WASHINGTON: piano remainder unknown but probably from either Red Saunders or Duke Ellington band.
YES INDEED! Delmark 554

20. JOHNNY WICKS' SWINGING OZARKS Jockey Jack Boogie (John Stephens) February 18, 1952
JOHN STEPHENS: vocal, tuba SCOTT JOHNSON: tenor sax GERALD BLUE: piano JOHNNY WICKS: bass SKIP EVERETT: drums
(Not yet on CD, out of print Pearl 13 LP)

21. JIMMY FORREST Sophisticated Lady (Ellington/Mills/Parish, Duke Ellington Music/EMI Mills Music Inc., ASCAP) March 30, 1952
JIMMY FORREST: tenor sax CHAUNCY LOCKE: trumpet BUNKY PARKER: piano JOHNNY MIXOM: bass OSCAR OLDHAM: drums BOB REAGAN: percussion
From the same recording session as other songs issued on Night Train
JIMMY FORREST Night Train Delmark 435

22. ROBERT ANDERSON & HIS GOSPEL CARAVANS Come In The Room (Alex Bradford, Unichappel Music, BMI) August 18, 1952
ROBERT ANDERSON, ALBERTINA WALKER, ORA LEE HOPKINS, ELYSE YANCEY, NELLIE GRACE DANIELS: vocal EDWARD ROBINSON: piano LOUISE OVERALL WEAVER: organ
ROBERT ANDERSON Working The Road Delmark 702


1. Roosevelt Sykes Fine And Brown (alternate) 2:54 1001-1
2. Leo Parker Cool Leo 2:27 1160-2 U-141
3. Junior Wells Cut That Out (alternate) 2:51 1325-3
4. Chris Woods Somebody Done Stole My Blues 2:22 1277-2
5. Robert Nighthawk Seventy-Four 2:49 1153-7
6. Jimmy Coe Organ Grinder 2:49 1384-5
7. Four Blazes Raggedy Ride 2:12 1366-4
8. J.T. Brown Walking Home 2:36 1054-4
9. Memphis Slim Memphis Slim U.S.A. 2:53 1482-7 U-186
10. Ray McKinstry Dinah 2:29 1134-2 U-128
11. Morris Pejoe Let's Get High 2:30 1506-4
12. Tab Smith Crazy Walk 2:40 1606 U-205
13. Grant Jones In The Dark 3:06 1147-2 U-133
14. Paul Bascomb Nona 3:05 1215-4
15. Dennis Binder The Long Man 2:42 1535-8 U-194
16. The Pastels Goodbye 2:42 1563-2
17. Alfred Harris My Life Blues 3:01 1465-1
18. Tiny Grimes Tiny's Boogie 2:57 1031-2 U-170
19. Della Reese Yes Indeed 2:44 1350-6
20. Johnny Wicks Jockey Jack Boogie 2:39 1059-9 U-116
21. Jimmy Forrest Sophisticated Lady (alternate) 2:47 1110-7
22. Robert Anderson Come In The Room 2:33 1111 U-122

Supervision: Leonard Allen, Lew Simpkins, Tony Vance
Album Production: Robert G. Koester and Steve Wagner
Mastering: Steve Wagner
Design: Kate Hoddinott, Moonshine Design
Special thanks to Richard Reicheg

These other fine releases available in Delmark's United Series:
HONKERS & BAR WALKERS Volume 1 Delmark 438
TAB SMITH Jump Time Delmark 447
TAB SMITH Ace High Delmark 455
TAB SMITH Top ’N' Bottom Delmark 499
HONKERS & BAR WALKERS Volume 3 Delmark 542
THE DANDERLIERS Chop Chop Boom Delmark 703
JUMP ’N' SHOUT New Orleans R&B Delmark 715
ON THE BATTLEFIELD Gospel Quartets Delmark 760
MEMPHIS SLIM The Come Back Delmark 762
THE FIVE C'S Tell Me Delmark 776